Prep/College/Pro experience: University of Chihuahua; coach, Club Britania in Mexico

Biggest moment in tennis: Making the quarterfinals of a major university tournament in Sinaloa.

Name: Gabriela Chaparro

Age: 20

Hometown: Chihuahua, Mexico

Events entered: Women’s Open Singles, Women’s Open Doubles

Prep/College/Pro experience: Tec de Monterrey

Biggest moment in tennis: Winning the Paper Cup Women’s Open Singles in 2013.

Name: Andrea Meneses

Age: 26

Hometown: Chihuahua, Mexico

Events entered: Women’s Open Singles, Open Doubles, Open Mixed Doubles

Prep/College/Pro experience: University of Chihuahua

Biggest moment in tennis: Winning the Paper Cup and reaching the quarterfinals of a college tournament in Sinaloa.

Name: Martina Rosker

Age: 23

Hometown: Maribor, Slovenia

Events entered: Women’s Open Singles, Open Mixed Doubles

Prep/College/Pro experience: Universty of Cyprus

Biggest moment in tennis: Semifinals of a major tournament in Slovenia; being ranked as high as No. 3 in Slovenia juniors; reaching a singles final for Cyprus.

Name: Marko Rak

Age: 19

Hometown: Maribor, Slovenia

Events entered: Men’s Open Singles, Open Mixed Doubles

Prep/College/Pro experience: Member of several clubs in Slovenia, including prestigious Klub Branik.

Biggest moment in tennis: Reaching the quarterfinals of a professional tournament in Zagreb; reaching as high as a No. 3 ranking in Slovenia juniors.

When the 35th edition begins its four-day run today at City Park, foreigners could be banking on some currency.

For the first time in the tournament’s rich history, bragging rights — whether they are spoken in English, Spanish, Slovenian or even Portuguese — come with cash. The men’s and women’s open singles champions will pocket $1,000 — each.

“It’s equal pay for men and women,” tournament director Norm Vail said proudly. “We’re trying to attract better players from throughout the state or from wherever, so we decided to offer prize money. The total purse is $2,800. You won’t get rich, but it’s a nice payday. Semifinal losers get $250 each and even the losers in the Round of 16 get paid.”

Vail said that although entries are down from last year — tournaments state and nationwide are down, he said — the quality of play available for free public consumption is abundant.

“There are some really, really good players in this field,” he said. “In both the men’s and women’s draws. I think some of the doubles you’ll see will be some of the best this tournament has ever had.”

There are 16 divisions and 108 players in the field. Semifinals are at 9 a.m. Saturday and the finals begin at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Once again, the field is graced with several players from Mexico and Slovenia through the Sister Cities program.

In the men’s bracket, 19-year-old Alan Nunez Aguilera, from sister city Puebla, Mexico, is the top seed.

“This is his first year as a professional but his rankings in singles and doubles are pretty good,” Vail said.

Nunez Aguilera will play doubles with Pueblo pro Tommy Chavez.

Also in the men’s draw are Javier Martinez and Rodrigo Regalado from Chihuahua, Mexico.

Defending women’s champion Gabriela Chaparro and runner-up Andrea Meneses, both from Chihuahua, are returning. Chaparro said Wednesday that she is nursing a sore wrist and might not be able to play singles.

“I will see how it feels in the next two days and then decide,” she said Wednesday as she participated in a small youth tennis clinic at City Park.

Two young Slovenians are playing this year. Marko Rak, 19, and Martina Rosker, 22, were highly ranked in Slovenian juniors. Rak is the No. 2 seed in the men’s open singles while Rosker is the No. 4 seed in the women’s open singles.

The two Slovenians also will play mixed doubles.

Former Colorado state prep champion Meagan Monaghan is the top seed in the women’s open singles.

Ryan Garner was unable to return to defend his men’s open championship because of a shoulder injury.